Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-10-06
LICENSE In MINNESOTA,
A st. Paul Journal Gives Some Figures
as to the Workings Of the
Statute.
The Saloons Decreased One Third
Public Sentiment FavOrs the
New Order Of Things.

New Order Of Things.
says: son July 1, the new high license
for Minnesota enacted by the last legis-
lature went into effect. Il provides that
the license for selling liquors shall be
81 900 in all cities containing a popula-
ton of 10000 or more, and $500 in all
cities the population of which is less than
10000. 1t imposes the severest penalties
for the violation of any of its mandates,
and gives over to the state authorities
partial jurisdiction in matters pertain
ing to its enforcement. As the bill was
voted upon by the legislature indications
were. that large majority of the people
of Minnesota believed that high license
embodied the best means of controlling
and satisfactorily regulating the sale of
Intoxicating liquors. In an endeavor to
place before the public the first complete,
reliable and satisfactory summary of the
immediate and probable effects of the
new law, the Pioneer Press sent to each
city and town in the state inquiries as to
the licenses and number of saloons under
the new law and the old laws, the revenue
surplus, If any, was applied.
THE FEELING OF THE PUBLIC
toward it, and the disposition of the sa-
loon keepers with respect to its obser
vance. The replies embraced almost the
entire state. In some instances the vii
lage and county licenses do not expire
until Jan. 1, 1888, when licenses will be
taken out under the new law. But those
cases are in decided minority, and
Their even the effects of the new law may
be SO accurately predicted that this re-
view may be considered as practically
complete.
1T is found that in those cities and
towns In which the new law is now en-
forced there has been falling off of one
third in the aggregate number of saloons,
while similar decrease is with good rea-
son predicted for those places where the
OLD licenses have not yet expired. Ex-
pressing 1t In round numbers of 1850
saloons which thrived and flourished un-
der the old license some $50 have been
unable to meet the advance and continue
in business under the new law. Ia Mime
apOlis the saloons have decreased in
number from 334 to 227; in Duluth, from
LA to "a; Ia Saltwater, from AZ to 80,
and in WInona from SO to %. st. Paul
is not as yet affected by the new law. In
that city the old licenses for her 700 sa-
looms dc not expire until Jan. 1, 1888,
the license fee being 800. 1t is thought
that high license will reduce this number
at least one-thlrd, probably one-helf.
Saloons which have renewed their licenses
under the new law with those which
dropped out last year, paid an average
license fee of $308. With high license
the average fee per saloon is $688, &C.
cordingly.
REDUCTION OF ONE THIRD
in their number has been obtained by
the raising of the license fee. The sa-
looms driven out of existence we're, gen.
orally speaking small ones, and many of
them hard places. A notable exception
to the latter we're number of beer sa-
looms conducted by germans, and in an
orderly manner, whose proprietors could
not afford to meet the advance. Saloon
keepers as rule fear the new law, and ap-
pear disposed to live up to its mandates.
The new places started are of an expen.
sive class, and have more at stake than
before. Sunday selling, selling to mi
nOrs and habitual drunkards and late
closing are reported as greatly lessened.
In the cities, saloons at distance from
the business center have been cut off,
and the result of this Capitalization has
been to place those still running under
closer police surveillance. Blind pigs
are becoming rarity, liquor dealers be-
ing equally as jealous as the authorities
in hunting them down. Many of the
cities and towns report public order as
improved. In others there appears to be
no perez ptable difference. Some are of
the opinion that drinking has decreased,
while very many assert that drunken
ness has greatly diminished. Generally
speaking, business in the pelice courts,
especially those of the smaller cities and
towns, does not appear to be nearly SO
brisk as before. In the larger cities,
however, the Capitalization of the saloons
has had tendency to bring those who
drink to excess to sections where they
more readily fall into the
CLUTCH OF THE LAW.
With reduction of one-third in the
number of saloons has followed an in
crease of one-third in the amount of pub
lie revenue deived therefrom. This sur
plus is used or variety of purposes
but the general term of municipal i'm
provements covers the main channels in
which it is expended. Streets are being
graded, public buildings being erected,
| interest on city bonds paid, fire apparatus
purchased, and taxes lessened. Public
sentiment is reported as overwhelmingly
in favor of the new law and high license.
People generally are of the opinion that
experience is proving that high license
embodies the best means of properly con-
trolling and regulating the sale of intoxi-
eating liquors. Opposition, when met
with, as rule comes from one of two
classes, the saloon element itself, which
would naturally oppose the law, and por-
hibitionists, who believe that high license
is q hindrance to the tina of no license"
STAMPEDE OF BUFFALOES